TURF TOPICS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 134, 13 July 1914, Page 8

TURF TOPICS.

F. Smith has rccommissioned that useful little galloper Free, who has been enjoying a few weeks' run in the paddock. She has put on a lot of flesh, and is looking bright and well after her short respite. Mescal, with Cocker in the saddle, was popped over a couple of the pony hurdles at headquarters this morning, performing satisfactorily. He was afterwards given a turn over a couple of big ones down the straight, and his display was much better than on former occasions.

Daylight Bill and Kilmeny strode over a couple of rounds on the sand track this morning, both moving freely throughout. The former, who lightened up considerably while racing „in the north, is fast picking up again, and should be in excellent trim by the time the National Meeting comes round.

Sunbeam strode over a round on the sand track at a solid pace this morning, but was a trifle sore after his task. The kick he received on one of his forelegs while racing in the north is still giving him trouble, and it is a matter of speculation as to whether he will have sufficiently recovered to permit his taking part in the jumping events at the National Meeting. The Sant Ilario mare Corrie fully justified the opinion of the local track watchers by carrying off the Hack Hurdle Handicap at Rangiora on Saturday. Her jumping during the past few weeks has been of an'impressive character, and as she is always running on at the right end she should not fail to land a stake in better company than she met on Saturday.

'"' Nancyform, an inmate of G. Fuller's stable, who Jhas for the past five weeks been doing trotting and cantering on the roads, put in an appearance at headquarters this morning, and in company with Obligate was jumped over a couple of the pony fences, after which the pair faced a couple of the big hurdles. The former, after baulking a couple of times, eventually managed to scramble over. She is very headstrong and difficult to manage.

Parable (Douglas) and Merry Lass (Wormald) jumped four flights of the schooling hurdles in company at Eiccarton this morning. The former dwells slightly at her jumps, but as she is only ; a beginner she will no doubt get out of the stopping habit. Merry Lass gave a very creditable display, jumping straight and clean. When Don Charl fell in the Hack Hurdle Eace at Eangiora on Saturday he badly strained the muscles of both his forelegs.' He is to be given a few days' rest. After his showing in both the steeplechase events at Eangiora on Saturday, any further attempt to train the hunter Opuka will be abandoned, his owner having decided to use him as a hack.

The Merriwee geldings Merry .Valet, who accounted for the Welter Handicap at Rangiora, will not be taken north to fulfil his Wellington engagements. Mr Fred Younge, secretary of the Otahuhu Trotting Club, is at present on a holiday visit to Christchurch. By far the best steeplechaser seen out at Eangiora on Saturday was Tim. Doolan, who flew his fences in the View Hill Steeplechase like a bird. His owner informs me that the Eookby gelding has not done a great deal of work, having been inconvenienced by a poisoned foot. As a result he can hardly be at his best for the Wellington meeting, but the racing there should benefit him greatly for his engagement at Eiccarton next month. For the second year in succession Coradjill has filled third place V.R.C. Grand National Steeplechase. The 'chasers Sportsman, Kia Ora, Royal Medal, and the hurdler Cardiff have been ridden at recent runs of the Otago Hunt. The most attractive performance registered in the V.R.C. Grand National Steeplechase was that recorded by United Kingdom. He was conceding Zephuron just on two stone, and only a length divided the pair at the finish after cutting out the journey in record time.

A good deal of amusement was occasioned at Rangiora on Saturday by the efforts of Terry Flynn, Obligate, and Opuka in their endeavours to negotiate the course mapped out for. the View Hill Steeplechase. Obligate took an early opportunit3 r of showing his dislike for the business by refusing at the very first obstacle. The brush fence at the turn out of the straight brought about Terry Flynn and Opuka 's-d own - fall, and after getting rid of his rider the former made tracks for home. Eventually he was brought, back and, in company with Opuka, was put at the fence quite half a dozen times, but all to no purpose, and eventually both horses were returned to the paddock. The fence in question is not a formidable one, and has, I believe, been negotiated by a polo pony. An unusually large number of wellknown performers over hurdles and fences are reported to be following the hounds in Southland and Otago, and no doubt several of them will be amongst the runners in hunters' events at the National meeting. A fortnight before the" V.H.C. Grand National Steeplechase was decided Zephuron and Coradjill met in the Williamstown Steeplechase, when at a difference of 131b in his favour the latter scored an easy win. On this showing the Portsea gelding was made a staunch favourite for last Saturday's race, but on this occasion Zephuron reversed positions, while United Kingdom, who was unplaced at Williamstown, also finished in front of the favourite.

A number of Canterbury sportsmen left for Wellington on Saturday evening to attend the Trotting and Eacing Conferences there. Others are booked to leave by this evening 's boat, which will also convey several Ricearton-trained horses with engagements at the Wellington Racing Club's meeting. Bluestone, who is one' of the most fancied candidates for the Parliamentary Handicap, has been pleasing the touts in his tasks at Trentham. The Aucklander looks in great heart and is galloping in brilliant style. A Wellington writer is responsible for the statement that the New Zealand Cup candidate, Blackball, by All Black —La Notte, proved too difficult for the stable lads at Randwiek to manage. This led to his being gelded and sent back to New Zealand.

The well-known Gisborne sportsman, Mr F. Hall, recently presented his son with Raupani. Since showing such ex-

collent form at the Gisborne meeting an offer of six hundred pounds Has been made and refused for the son of Tauhei.

During his stay in Melbourne, trainer G. Price visited the Shipley Stud at Warrnambool, and there saw Mr S* Green's valuable imported horses White Star and Comedy King. Price told a Wellington writer that he was very favourably impressed with Comedy King, who has developed into a beautiful stamp of thoroughbred stallion. White Star is generally understood to have cost his owner 10,000 guineas, and that is probably as big a price as has been given for any horse yet imported te Australia. He was selected to provide an outcross to St. Simon blood. Among the mares which Price saw at Shipley, were several bred in New Zealand. They included Problem (dam of Solution), Indian Queen (dam of Aborigine), and those brilliant performers Artillt:rie and Cross Battery. The luxuriously-handicapped Anna Carlovna, is already a hot favourite for the Caullield Cup—that is, taking into consideration the fact that the race is not to be run until the middle of October (says an Australian writer). It was quite expected that Carlovna would head the quotations on the Caulfield Cup at some stage or other, but it was scarcely anticipated that she would figure thus early at her present short price, But while that mare is at a contracted figure, the "listmen" are ;iot disposed to take liberties with her stable companion, Meritus, who follows i n second place. E. A. Connolly has therefore the first and second favourites for one of the most important handicaps of the year immediately following oa tire appearance of the Weights. Nominally Aleconner and Uncle Sam are next fancied after the two named. 80. far as the Melbourne Cup 13 concerned, the quotations are topped by TJlva ; s Isle, but it may be accepted as certain that the owner has not contributed in aay way to the position that horse occupies. Metropolitan quotations show Multifoil and Sir Alwynton to be the prime "picks," but they are at muck longer figures than those offered on thf* field for either of the cups, while a better offer still is to be Jiad about Bean Sonlt, Ben Eeve, or First Principle, yhich are most in demand for the lspsora Handicap. This is a clear indication that, in the opinion of those who 1 ' back horses,'' the cups are the easiest races of the four to find the winners of.

RACING AT RANGIGRA.

A CHEQUERED CAREER. From a variety of reasons, racing* in the Eangiora district has never the progress that could be expected from such a prosperous part of the province. It is quite 40 years ago since the first racing club was formed in the district, and for a time operations were conducted in a reserve at Eangiora near where the mill now stands. Of the band of .enthusiasts who assisted at those old-time fixtures, I fancy the veteran sportsman Mr F. Busch is the only one still on deck, and, despite his four-score years, he seldom misses a meeting in the North Canterbury district. After racing on the original course for some years, the club purchased a hundred acres of light land adjacent to the township of Eangiora, and.for a time prosperity came its way. Though the stakes given were never of a very substantial order, the betting facilities were such as to induce many prominent owners of the time to exploit the meetings. Subsequently the Chjb got into low water, and in the intervening years has twice been reorganised. Its death knell was nearly sounded three years ago when the Easing Commission determined to withdraw the club's totalisator. permit, but again a number of enthusiasts came to the rescue and determined to keep matters going in the expectation of eventually getting the lost permit back again. There are many reasons why the club should be one of the first to receive consideration if Mr Hunter's Bill becomes law. At present there is only one totalisator license in the whole North Canterbury country district, and when the pruning knife was applied by the Eacing Commission no part of the Dominion suffered so severely. The fact of the course being the club's own property is also a worthy considera- • tion, and I am given to understand that should a permit be granted the executive is at once prepared to spend the best* part of a thousand pounds in improvements.

In the event of such a happening, the club would be wise to thoroughly reorganise its meeting. Such a mixed programme as that contested last Saturdaj would never be successful either-from a sporting or financial standpoint. Both the cross-country events were little better than fiascos, and the hurdle races also left a lot to be desired. Nor is 1 the time of year at all suitable, for, although Saturday last happened to be a* gloriously fine day, there is always a big risk in racing at this season of the year. Should the club be fortunate enough to secure a permit, of which there seems good prospects, it would b& well advised to hold its fixture in tho summer and confine its programme to flat events and perhaps a couple of trots, to -help the financial side of the arrangements. TEMPLAR.